Attributes of God - Omnipotence Flashcards
How did Descartes define omnipotence?
God can do absolutely anything including the logically impossible.
What did Descartes mean by his definition of omnipotence?
God can do the things that are contradictory, the non sensical. God is not limited by the laws of logic since God created these laws e.g. God can create a square circle, kill himself and still be alive, make a rock too heavy to lift and still lift it.
What are the strengths of Descartes’ view?
Maintains the absolute power of God, we cannot lay down limitations on God’s omnipotence as we are limited in knowledge of him. Biblical support - Jesus walks on water, God becomes human - both logically impossible.
How is Descartes’ definition not compatible with free will?
If God could do what is logically impossible, human beings would have genuine free will and still be controlled in such a way that they could act kindly and justly and rightly.
How does the Bible contradict Descartes?
Hebrews say that God cannot lie
How does Vardy criticise Descartes?
God has created this world in such a way as to choose to limit himself with giving humans free will, so can’t do the logically impossible.
What does it mean to say that God can do anything that is logically possible?
He can do anything that is within the laws of logic in this world e.g. it is logically possible for a child to swim, and so it should be possible for God to swim. If God can’t swim then God is less powerful than the child who can swim. God can lie and commit evil acts.
What are the strengths of limiting God to what is only logically possible?
Humans can understand this concept, unlike Descartes version of omnipotence. God created the laws of logic and so it is a mistake to say that he should be limited by what he has created as he can break them. Allows for free will.
What are the weaknesses of limiting God to what is only logically possible?
This model ignores God’s nature as wholly simple and benevolent which scholars like Aquinas would not wish to do. It involves completely rethinking “God”. It anthropomorphises God. Applying human logic to God - can’t do this. Limits his omnipotence.
How did Aquinas define God’s omnipotence?
God can do anything that is ‘absolutely possible’ - ‘absolutely possible’ means that anything that does not involve a contradictions.
What contradictions did Aquinas identify?
2 types of contradiction:
1. A contradiction within the task itself
2. A contradiction between the task and the nature of God.
What is an example of a contradiction within the task itself?
He can’t create a square circle or a male spinster
What is an example of a contradiction within the task itself and Gods nature?
God cannot ‘die’, because he is wholly timeless and spaceless and could not change in order to do so.
What are the strengths of Aquinas’ view?
Maintains God’s absolute power and attributes, by only ruling out tasks that are meaningless in reality. It is only God’s own nature that restricts him - Vardy. Logically contradictory tasks e.g. square circle are not tasks at all - they are totally meaningless - Aquinas.
What is the issue with Aquinas’ view with regards to God’s other attributes?
God’s attributes already contradict i.e. God being both immanent and transcendent. Also, God becomes human.
